You’ve probably heard on the announcements about some sort of caffeine-fueled, all-nighter extravaganza – and that extravaganza is none other than National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. Last year, there were a total of 384,126 participants, but only 34,000 reached the ultimate goal of completing a 50,000 word novel.

What’s it all about?

As stated, the goal of National Novel Writing Month is to complete a 50,000 word written work, whether it be a complete novel, a book of short stories, poetry, or even a script of a screenplay – as long as your word count shows 50,000 or greater, you’re able to consider yourself a ‘winner’.

What do I get for winning?

If you were determined enough to complete every word, you’ll have the opportunity to get real editorial feedback through one of the company’s partners, KindleScout. If they love your story enough, you may even be able to get a publishing contract and print copies of your book. Some winners of NaNoWriMo in the past have found great success in their projects. Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants became a New York Times Bestseller – and is currently being adapted into a feature length film. That could be you.

How could I possibly complete it all?

If you plan to meet the 50,000 word cap, that means you’d have to write 1667 word every single day of November. You could of course write less than that on a certain day, but that would mean you’d have to write more on the next. This is why NaNoWriMo is all about time management and working as hard as you can in the short amounts of time you may end up with because of you busy high school schedule. By the end of the first week, writers were expected to be at 8333 words; the second week 20,000; the third 31,667; the fourth 43,333; and finally, on the 30th of November you need 50,000 words. If you upload before midnight, you’ve won!

The website is also kind enough to provide statistics on your average words per day, how many words you’ll need to write each day to catch up if you’ve fallen behind, and the day you will finish if you continue at the rate you’re going. It could say November 30th if you’re on schedule – but if you’ve been slacking, the date could be as far away as 2045.

What’s the appeal, then?

There’s a great feeling that comes with accomplishment. You probably feel it every night, being able to put your textbooks and binders away when you finish your homework, or even being able to flop down on your bed after giving your room a deep cleaning. Completing NaNoWriMo can give you a feeling of accomplishment like no other. You’ll have the novel to prove it.